diff --git a/.github/workflows/claude-review.yml b/.github/workflows/claude-review.yml
index 38aa4c4083..1ff05a874d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/claude-review.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/claude-review.yml
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ jobs:
       pull-requests: write
 
     outputs:
+      skip: ${{ steps.context.outputs.skip }}
       pr_number: ${{ steps.context.outputs.pr_number }}
       comment_id: ${{ steps.context.outputs.comment_id }}
       head_sha: ${{ steps.context.outputs.head_sha }}
@@ -132,6 +133,21 @@ jobs:
               github.paginate(github.rest.pulls.listReviewComments, { owner, repo, pull_number: prNumber, per_page: 100 }),
             ]);
 
+            /* A README.md that still carries the AI review notice has not been
+             * looked at by its author yet, so there is nothing to review. */
+            const readme = await github.rest.repos.getContent({
+              owner,
+              repo,
+              path: "README.md",
+              ref: pr.data.head.sha,
+            });
+            if (Buffer.from(readme.data.content, "base64").toString()
+                .includes("Remove this line to confirm you've reviewed this PR before submitting.")) {
+              console.log("README.md still carries the review notice, skipping.");
+              core.setOutput("skip", "true");
+              return;
+            }
+
             /* Find or create tracking comment. */
             const existing = issueComments.find((c) =>
               c.user?.login === "github-actions[bot]" && c.body?.includes(MARKER));
@@ -201,6 +217,7 @@ jobs:
   review:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: setup
+    if: needs.setup.outputs.skip != 'true'
     timeout-minutes: 55
 
     permissions:
@@ -496,7 +513,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [setup, review]
     # Run unless setup never started, so a setup that dies after creating the
     # tracking comment cannot strand the transient banner on the pull request.
-    if: always() && needs.setup.result != 'skipped'
+    if: always() && needs.setup.result != 'skipped' && needs.setup.outputs.skip != 'true'
 
     permissions:
       pull-requests: write
diff --git a/.github/workflows/labeler.yml b/.github/workflows/labeler.yml
index ab0c205e02..f3d7edf4f3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/labeler.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/labeler.yml
@@ -64,7 +64,28 @@ jobs:
             "good-to-merge/waiting-for-reporter-feedback 👍",
           ]);
 
-          if (Array.from(labels).filter(l => good_to_merge.has(l)).length == 0) {
+          /* A README.md that still carries the AI review notice has not been
+           * looked at by its author yet, so nobody else should review it. */
+          const readme = await github.rest.repos.getContent({
+            owner: context.repo.owner,
+            repo: context.repo.repo,
+            path: "README.md",
+            ref: context.payload.pull_request.head.sha,
+          });
+          const unreviewed = Buffer.from(readme.data.content, "base64").toString()
+            .includes("Remove this line to confirm you've reviewed this PR before submitting.");
+
+          if (unreviewed) {
+            /* Only GraphQL can do this. The author marks the PR ready again once
+             * the notice is gone, which triggers the labeling below. */
+            await github.graphql(`
+              mutation($id: ID!) {
+                convertPullRequestToDraft(input: { pullRequestId: $id }) {
+                  pullRequest { isDraft }
+                }
+              }
+            `, { id: context.payload.pull_request.node_id });
+          } else if (Array.from(labels).filter(l => good_to_merge.has(l)).length == 0) {
             labels.add("please-review");
           }